Active Fire Protection (AFP) - News

The Fotokite Sigma has recently been mentioned as one of the more common tethered drones used by police and fire departments to provide simple and easy situational awareness. Drones (including tethered drones) are becoming critical tools for all kinds of use cases in law enforcement and firefighting. In many aspects of their emergency operations, a new era driven by drone usage is emerging, featured in the latest article, ‘11 Ways Police Departments are using drones’ from Police1.co...

Lorna Dodd, from Queensbury, only took part in her first triathlon last summer, but her second triathlon saw her take part in qualifying races and make the cut to represent her country later this year.  As part of the Super-Sprint Distance team, Lorna will be swimming 400 m, cycling 10 km, and running 2.5 km in the 30-34 age group. Lorna United WYFRS Lorna joined West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) in 2016 after her sports science degree led her into a range...

On January 23rd, the Fire Safety (England) Regulation 2022 came into effect, putting greater emphasis on the importance of fire doors and fire safety instructions for multi-occupied high-rise buildings. With these changes, and more set to come this year, Amthal is urging those responsible for high-rise residential buildings to pay heed to emerging legislation, as Phil Bryant, the Manager of Amthal Strategic Accounts explains. The Hackitt Review The Hackitt Review, responsible for changing the...

The U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Executive Summary is now available. This report provides highlights from the Summit that took place on October 11, 2022, and brought together government officials, fire service leaders, and scientists to address America’s fire problem. Included in the report are fact sheets detailing the recommendations covered in the Fire Service National Strategy.

Fentanyl is killing Americans all across the country at unprecedented rates. As the heroin and fentanyl epidemic continues to grow, emergency responders who come in accidental contact with these dangerous drugs are at great personal risk. PH&S Products, LLC (PH&S) is committed to providing the highest quality gloves for the safety and well-being of these responders, which is why they are offering a 10 percent discount and free shipping on GET-A-GRIP Gloves in 2023. GET-A-GRIP Gloves G...

Fire safety and security specialist, Amthal is continuing on its ambitious growth plan to service more advanced commercial customers, with six dedicated appointments already in 2023, set across the business. The new appointments include Amy Bradbury who has joined the commercial team, together with Donna Henderson who has been welcomed as a key account coordinator in the MSR team. Amthal has also appointed three new MSR Engineers since the start of the year. Rolling recruitment program Contin...

Alex Abrams will be tackling the London Marathon in April and then will also run the Leeds Marathon just three weeks later. She has also decided to continue her fundraising efforts by doing the Great North Run in September. Alex is taking on the challenges in a bid to raise funds in memory of her dad, Darren Abrams who died suddenly in November. Darren worked with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) as a firefighter for nearly 20 years and was part of the Red Watch Team at Hunsl...

Lithium-ion batteries are commonplace in a whole host of applications. From smartphones to laptops, the majority of electronic devices will include lithium-ion batteries, meaning workplaces throughout the country are likely to include copious amounts of them.  While they’re extremely useful, they also present a fire risk. Primarily, careless waste management of these batteries has been known to result in the breakout of fire, with the Environmental Services Association (ESA) stating...

Continuing the EMS culture of innovation, Carrier Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the latest version of the FireCell Android app. This exclusive resource is provided free to use on all Android platforms, with an iPhone version in the pipeline to follow shortly. With many users around the globe having the previous version installed, it’s now time to move to the 2023 version, and those not using this already can install it in minutes. EN54-25 FireCell wireless fire detecti...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, following five firefighters being taken to hospital, one who is in a critical condition. 22 fire appliances attended the fire at a former department store in Edinburgh, Scotland. A total of 11 fire engines and specialist equipment remain at the scene. Firefighters injured in store fire It is always devastating when firefighters are injured attending incidents" The Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Cou...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of its Leadership and People Fire Standards: Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People.  Both Fire Standards have been developed to support services in strengthening professionalism and leadership at all levels of their organization, encouraging more positive working environments for the benefit of their people and the community they serve.  Leading the Service Fire Standard The Leading the Service Fire S...

The new Fire Safety (England) Regulations will take effect from January 23, 2023. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) welcomed the introduction of the new Regulations, which make it a requirement for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings to provide information on their building/s to their local fire and rescue service. A high-rise residential building is defined as a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises and is at least 18 meters tall or has at least sev...

A false fire alarm can have damaging consequences for businesses, both financially and in terms of safety. Not only can it lead to lost productivity, and damage to reputation, but even legal penalties. Understanding the potential costs of a false fire alarm can help businesses take steps to reduce the likelihood of false alarms and mitigate the impact when they do occur. Financial Costs One of the most obvious costs of a false fire alarm is the financial impact on a business. False alarms...

The Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Group (ACER) is an independent forum, convened by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to help coordinate and maximize the benefits of academic research with relevance for fire and rescue services (FRS), to contribute to improved public and firefighter safety.  It is chaired by Rowena Hill from Nottingham Trent University and Vice Chaired by Justin Johnston from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (Lancashire FRS). ACER ACER will pro...

Following the publication of the annual State of Fire report, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has responded to its findings. Published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), it looks at the fire and rescue service’s effectiveness, efficiency and how they focus on their staff. In the report, HMICFRS’ Chief Inspector - Andy Cooke said: “I am continually struck by the dedication of firefighters and other staff, and I...

High inflation rates and vastly increased energy bills could mean less for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority to spend next year. Now the public is being asked if they would support an extra £5 average precept on their council tax bill to pay for fire service costs. This would allow the service to be able to keep its current commitments, all aimed at making West Yorkshire safer for all who live, work, and visit it. The Authority is the publicly accountable body responsible for provi...

RECYCLING-TECHNIK 2023 will take place from 29 - 30 March 2023 at Messe Dortmund, in Dortmund, Germany. Visitors will be offered a comprehensive information platform on recycling technologies. In addition to the exhibition, there will also be an extensive lecture program. Fire protection is an important topic, especially in the waste industry, because fires in recycling plants can have devastating consequences. Fire protection in the recycling industry Many materials are highly flammable. The...

The FeuerTrutz 2023 trade fair including the Congress for Preventive Fire Protection will take place from June 21 to June 22, 2023 at the Nuremberg Convention Center, in Nuremberg, Germany. Technical, structural, and organizational fire protection solutions will be presented at the FeuerTrutz trade fair by various exhibitors. FeuerTrutz trade fair FeuerTrutz is an ideal platform for specialist planners, experts, architects, civil engineers, staff of public authorities and fire protection auth...

Attacks on firefighters are at their highest since records began – and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) saw the worst attacks it has ever seen over the weekend. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) wants to see stronger sentences handed down by the courts – where restorative justice has not worked. According to the latest Home Office figures, almost one thousand firefighters were attacked while attending incidents. Rise in number of attacks on firefighters To s...

In the chemical industry, the importance of efficient inventory management cannot be overstated. With complex regulatory requirements, safety concerns, and the need to optimize operations, organizations are increasingly turning to chemical inventory management software. Chemical management software enables businesses to streamline their inventory processes, track stock levels, monitor expiration dates, and ensure compliance with safety standards. Users leveraging advanced chemical inventory man...

The Head of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and principals of America’s national fire service organizations traveled to New York City and Philadelphia to honor those lost to fires in the past year, including the 29 victims of the tragic fires in the Bronx and Philadelphia. During her visits, U.S. Fire Administrator - Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell shared steps to reduce the risk of fire in local communities and launch the USFA Nation...

A vehicle’s suspension may often be overlooked or undervalued by the typical car shopper. But to those in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) industry, the suspension of a firefighting vehicle is a critical component that should be closely evaluated based on a fire department’s needs. TAK-4® independent suspension The patented Oshkosh® TAK-4® independent suspension is engineered as a standard feature on the Oshkosh Striker® ARFF. This technology increases t...

Fire-Dex, a family-owned global manufacturer of PPE for first responders, is on a mission. After yet another year of tremendous growth and continued success, the company announced 15 key associate promotions to continue serving those who serve. 40% YoY sales growth Once again, Fire-Dex experienced incredible year-over-year sales growth of over 40% in booking and revenue dollars. They have also onboarded 110 new associates between their 13 locations, which has resulted in production volumes bei...

Fire safety is important to implement everywhere, including the home. Yet, many people may not realize how many fire protection items are available and practical to keep in the house in the unfortunate event that a fire does break out. Mentioned below are some essential fire safety items to consider keeping at home. Fire Alarm System Every home should have a smoke detector in place as the most basic level of fire protection. Though it is not a legal requirement to have a smoke alarm in place...

As multi-sensors become increasingly popular, Detectortesters are delighted to be partnering with Hochiki to present a new webinar, looking at the functional testing of these devices using Testifire. With multi-sensors becoming more and more sophisticated but easier to manufacture, they are becoming the number one choice for system designers and installers wishing to reduce false alarms and provide flexible fire detection. Testing a multi-sensor accurately and efficiently Scheduled for 19th J...

G4S Secure Solutions UK will create almost 100 jobs for those living near Suffolk, close to the Sizewell C nuclear plant. EDF has awarded a £4.3 million interim security contract to G4S. So far, over 50 residents have applied for positions or are in the process of onboarding, including the Contract Manager, James Self. James, who was born and raised in Suffolk, joined G4S in 2018 as a Security Training Manager at Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, before transferring to work at the Sizewell C...

In February 2020, the Department of Defense ASD SO/LIC’s ’Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD) selected SMARTSHOOTER, a designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems, to develop the solution for its Individual Weapon Overmatch Optic (IWOO) project. IWOO Technology Readiness Review Recently, SMARTSHOOTER reached its final milestone by successfully passing the IWOO Technology Readiness Review (TRR). Two prototype systems were taken throug...

Thirteen fire departments received much-needed new personal protective equipment in 2022 due to MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). To keep first responders safe and protected, the giveaway awarded four sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and four new helmets to selected departments. In addition, the first 500 applicants received a complimentary membership to the NVFC, courtesy of MSA. annual giveaway Too often, volunte...

During the winter months, homes and businesses can feel chilly, even with the heat running. Depending on the cold tolerance, the user may use a space heater in a particular room of the home or near the desk at work. Although this added heat source seems like the perfect way to keep the user feeling comfy-cozy year-round, it’s important to know the risks involved and about space heater safety.  space heater safety The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a...

Cierra Orlyk, communications coordinator, joined the NVFC in September. She assists with the NVFC’s messaging and public outreach, including managing the NVFC’s social media accounts, writing newsletter and eblast content, and facilitating live panel discussions. Cierra developed a deep respect and admiration for emergency responders growing up with a firefighter as her dad, and gained valuable association management experience before coming to the NVFC. She received her bachelor&rs...